Nautilus wins big at All Island Innovation Awards

20 April 15

Newry-based Nautilus NI Ltd has won the IT and Telecommunications category at this year’s Irish Times InterTradeIreland Innovation Awards. The event was held at Belfast City hall and was attended by over 220 guests and Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster.

Nautilus NI Ltd, which is based in Newry, was nominated for its innovative anti-counterfeiting patented technology, Nautilus Tilt to View (T2V). This system is less invasive than holograms and features nano-embossing and printed hidden images. The company is already selling Nautilus Tilt to View in international markets.

Like a hologram, T2V changes colour when the user tilts the product or packaging. Its cost is minimal compared with holograms or colour shift inks, it doesn’t require any special device to be decoded, adds no extra raw materials, creates no extra waste, and doesn’t affect the recycling of packaging or product. The T2V feature is completely embedded into the product or packaging, making it impossible to be removed.

Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister, Arlene Foster said: “These awards showcase companies here who are leaders in their field. Innovators like those companies being showcased here in Belfast tonight are and will play a major part in contributing and promoting economic recovery. I’d like to congratulate all of the winners and those shortlisted in particular I would like to recognise the Newry based Nautilus NI who have won the IT and Telecommunications category. Their success is due to the hard work and dedication of all their staff and I’d like to praise them for their determination to be a leading company in their field.”

Aidan Gough, Director of Strategy and Policy at InterTradeIreland congratulated the award winners: “Innovation opens new opportunities for businesses no matter what sector they’re in as the diversity of the finalists in the 2015 All-island Innovation Awards shows. InterTradeIreland congratulates the award winners and finalists. We know that innovative companies generate growth and create jobs and we look forward to following their future success.”

Michael McAleer, Innovation Editor at The Irish Times, said, “The Innovation Awards showcase and reward excellence in innovation across a range of groundbreaking products and services on the island of Ireland. Year on year, it is exciting to see companies big and small creating the next big innovation and this year is no exception with the high quality of winners in the awards.”

The winners of the other categories, who will receive a €10,000 Irish Times media deal and an i-Pad, are:

• Agri-Food winner: Ocean Harvest Technology - Galway

• Bioscience winner: Embo Medical - Galway

• Creative Industries winner: WholeWorldBand - Dublin

• Manufacturing winner: PanelDuct - Mayo

• Energy & The Environment winner: REDT Energy – Dublin

The overall ‘Innovation of the Year’ award went to Mayo manufacturing firm PanelDuct who have revolutionised the installation of ventilation ducts in major building projects internationally, significantly cutting both the parts and installation costs involved.

As overall winner, PanelDuct will receive a communications and advertising package from The Irish Times worth €150,000, along with a UCD Smurfit Business School scholarship for an Executive Education programme commencing in 2016 and a state of the art laptop.

The ‘Best North/South Collaboration’award went to BFree Foodsfrom South Dublin. BFree was nominated for its wheat free fajita kits which it claims are a world first. After carrying out some market research BFree decided to branch out from bakery to create the first ever allergen free Fajita Kit that is also only 127 calories per serving – a healthier, convenient alternative to the traditional category.

For more information on all the winners please visit: www.irishtimes.com/business/innovation/innovation-awards-2015